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As I get older and older my neck really hurts after a ride. I have tried a riser stem which helps but increasingly not enough. Has anybody tried the various types of steerer tube extender available? I do mainly easy bridleways but am still wary of this as a fix but the combination of an extra 50mm on the steerer and riser bars might make me more comfortable
There are some very high rise bars available now, and some like them with more backsweep too for a comfier position.
I wouldn’t worry about them being too high for good handling on more interesting trails - DH & enduro racers are running pretty sky high bars!
Shorter stem (unless you're already as short as can go) and riser bars with more sweep.
Yeah, I'd ignore steerer extensions (wise to be wary of those) and get some super high rise bars. Deity do 80mm for not silly money.
I have 50mm DMR Odub bars and they’ve helped my position. A friend has just got 70mm Renthal Fatbars and the feel really nice.
I’ve switched my rear 29er wheel for a 27.5 to alleviate hand numbness.
early days. But I figure that it will shift all the weighty mass of my torso ever so slightly backwards.
other options include ‘delta’ stem risers, and bars with more upsweep and backsweep.
if your bed is too soft, the dent that your torso leaves in the mattress will manifest as neck pain.
What width do you run your bars currently? There's potential if you're running them wide (780/800) to cut them down a bit which will bring your hands in and torso up for free?
How old are you?
Do you do plenty of stretching and upper body strength exercises?
I’m 76 so probably a bit optimistic! My bars are 800 so could come down. I have just discovered chin tucks which I hope might strengthen the neck muscles.
I shall order some shorter higher bars and we’ll see how that goes
Best not to use a steerer extender, they look lethal to me - and will move the bars back upsetting F-R balance.
I'm 6'2". I'm recently thoroughtly enjoying a 70 rise Renthal 820 bar, I ride the same bike everywhere. Still got about 20 spacers under the stem too - I worked my way up via Burgtec's 38 and 50 then Renthal 70 (I prefer the rental sweep as although angleds are quoted the same, they must be measuring differently, I think. I had to roll the Burgtec forward to get the right wrist angle. Renthal is at zero) Strangely I feel more able to weight the front and look ahead round corners, I am more "head up" when I want to be.
With my 62 head angle, every 10mm of spacers moves the bar back towards the rider by 4mm approx. The bar goes straight up sop doesen tdo that. My rise is set to perpendicular with the ground, I think that’s the right way - i.e. not inline with the fork legs.
Of course, it's also comfy sit back and relax to slowly climb access roads, but on tech climbs and flat corners you need to bend the arms. Its just giving you more range to use.
recommended
My bars are 800 so could come down.
Crikey, definitely start there! Are you 6ft+?
Remember its easy with bars and most lock on grips to trial this - move everything inboard by 20mm and go for a ride or two.
I went all in with the wide-bar trend over the past decade or so but have gradually regressed back to 760mm as the sweet spot for me at 5'10" / 178cm.
Do some stretching and warm up exercises. It doesn’t have to be crazy stuff.
You mentioned thst you’re 76, not sure if this was in response to the suggestion to do strength exercises. I’d think (though I’m 55 not 76) thst if you’re still riding you’d be able to do some strength exercises. Again doesn’t need to be crazy stuff. Hope that doesn’t sound patronizing.
DMR Defy stem will let you fit your bars about 15 to 20mm higher than a normal stem if you’ve run out of steerer tube. It’s a a cool design, thinner where it clamps the steerer and the bars sort of fit from above rather than from the front.
all the above, plus:
keep checking your riding position, make sure you're not too slumped, hunched
have a look at your helmet. You're probably not riding a full face, but there's a big difference to neck load between a 350 gramme mtb helmet and sub 150g for a weight conscious roadie/gravel job.
If I ride my gravel bike with my MTB helmet instead of my road helmet my neck aches. Because the peak forces me to lift my head up more to see where I'm going. But I agree with the riser bar and cutting down the width remedies too.
If I go for a 30 mile plus road ride after a period of not using it then I get neck ache, but next week it'll be fine.
But I'm a whippersnapper at 4 years younger than the OP.